Ysiad

Two of the self management tools that keep my day-to-day activities focused on longer-term objectives at work are 1) having 30/60/90 day goals and 2) having a daily to-do list.

The 30/60/90 day goals keep me focused on tactical plans that support longer term strategic objectives (more subtle or longer term goals with multiple dependencies that can take a year or more to come to fruition). And the daily to-do list helps bring focus to what I can do today to execute the tactics I’ve decided on.

Ideally, I would set the following day’s to-do list the night before, so I don’t need to think of my to-do list when I wake up, but I do not do this consistently yet. My hypothesis for this is that it’s because I don’t have a defined end-time for my work day. Would I be more effective if I had a defined end-time?

My major goal for this year is to use the same mechanisms I use for my work life on my personal life, to increase the likelihood I’ll cross off personal goals.

As of right now, here are my outstanding life goals, some of which I’ve had for over 2 years (which is far too long, in my opinion):

• Create a to-do list every day for 45 days straight
• Do yoga every day for 30 days straight.
• Memorize seven funny jokes that are appropriate for all ages
• Develop a system for writing thank you notes and staying in touch with everyone I meet
• Do a set of five handstand pushups (Still trying to keep my balance with feet off of the wall)
• Learn a tai chi form.
• See the underground rivers in the Yucatan Peninsula
• Visit the Himalayas
• Strengthen my back muscles to the point I could keep my back straight all day without slouching.
• Create a walking treadmill desk that works without electricity.
• Change my disposition to the point where I naturally smile at everyone I encounter.

Add to that some minor goals with regard to setting up my new place and we’ve pretty much got my long-term personal life goals covered for the next year. It’s still neglecting some shorter term goals around lifestyle simplification. The lifestyle simplification goals revolve around having more things decided for myself ahead of time, and owning fewer things.

For the sake of owning fewer things:

• Decide on a personal uniform that works for me
  • Day-to-Day default uniform
  • Gym uniform
  • Costumes still allowed for parties and special occasions.
    • Tuxedo
    • Wigs
    • Suits if a suit is not part of my uniform

For the sake of fewer decisions:

• Get on some sort of dietary plan that works for me and is easy to stick to.
  • I love fruits
  • I really like vegetables
  • I don’t mind eating eggs raw
  • I feel like Jack LaLanne probably figured this out and I should just research what he did

Not done, but leaving the house right now to run errands.